Aust name Bird in Test squad

Date: December 18 2012

Greg Buckle

Newly-crowned World No.1-ranked batsman Michael Clarke is confident he'll be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Boxing Day despite suffering a hamstring strain in the first Test in Hobart.

Tasmania's Hilfenhaus broke down with a side strain during Sri Lanka's first innings of the first Test which Australia won by 137 runs on Tuesday.

Skipper Clarke made 74 and 57 retired hurt in Hobart and fielded at first slip on Tuesday, taking a low diving catch.

Former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja was named on his 26th birthday as a standby player for Clarke for the Melbourne Test. Khawaja, who averages under 30 in his six Tests, was dropped after Australia's shock loss to New Zealand in Hobart a year ago.

Bird, also 26, deserves a call-up after shooting to the top of the Sheffield Shield wicket-taking table.

Left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson -- who was 12th man in Hobart -- remains in the squad and is likely to present a stronger case for selection in the final 11 than Bird however.

In a cheerful mood after his side's win with 10.4 overs remaining, Clarke said his hamstring injury was not too bad.

"I'll be having plenty of treatment but I'll be confident I'll be right for Boxing Day," said Clarke, who's the leading runscorer in Test cricket in 2012 and is 55 runs shy of Ricky Ponting's 2005 national record of 1544 runs in a calendar year.

"I know I'm in great hands with Alex (team physio Alex Kountouris).

"Mickey (coach Mickey Arthur) and the selectors will give me as much time as required leading into the game."

The ICC released a statement saying Clarke (888 points) had overtaken West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul (879) as the top-ranked batsman in Test cricket.

Clarke said he was confident Khawaja had improved in areas of his game which have been criticised by chairman of selectors John Inverarity, including his running between wickets and fielding.

"In the game against NSW he batted really well. He fielded really well as well," Clarke said.

"If you're putting numbers on the board you're going a long way to being in line to be selected for Australia.

"Hopefully he continues to improve in the areas John wanted him to improve in. The only reason 'Invers' would be saying that stuff would be to help him become a better player.

"He's obviously playing some really good cricket. What a great opportunity (for him) to come into the squad for Boxing Day, (when) he might get an opportunity."